Kichawi Kill: Striga Bioherbicide

Mitigating Africa’s worst pest threat to food security by revolutionizing crop protection with a biological and sustainable weed control alternative.

This technology is a selective biological herbicide that farmers apply as a seed coating to boost their crop yields. This groundbreaking innovation is one of the first bioherbicides to be commercialized worldwide. It uses strains of a specific Kenyan fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae, which have been selected for their ability to over-produce certain amino acids that kill Striga (witchweed) without harming maize. Normally, Fusarium oxysporum isn’t strong enough to protect crops from Striga. However, by choosing a strains that over-produces specific amino acids, the fungus can effectively reduce Striga infestation and restore crop yields. This is the first technology to combine the benefits of amino acid inhibition with fungal pathogens.

This technology is validated.

9•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive high

Women: Positive medium

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Problem

Striga, an invasive parasitic weed, attacks the roots of staple crops like maize and sorghum, reducing crop yield by 20–100%.
50 million hectares of croplands (40 million farms) in sub-Saharan Africa show Striga infestation, causing 9+ billion USD in crop loss annually.
Striga plants produce over 50,000 seeds per season, adding to the soil seed bank.
The seeds of striga can spread easily across farms and from one farm to the next through wind, human and animal traffic, and farming tools.

Solution

Kichawi Kill is a groundbreaking solution for managing Striga and other global weed problems.
Using this herbicide has resulted in a 42-56% increase in crop yields.
The approval of the fungi seed coating product has significantly reduced its cost and increased its shelf life.
This technology offers a safe, effective, and affordable alternative to traditional chemical herbicides.

Key points to design your project

The striga bioherbicide technology targets Striga (witchweed), a parasitic weed that causes significant yield losses in staple crops such as maize and sorghum. With a positive impact on crop productivity and food security, it is easily applicable in dispersed farming communities, particularly benefiting smallholder farmers, women, and young people. This contributes to reducing poverty, hunger, and improving overall well-being.

To integrate this technology into your project, create a list of project activities and prerequisites, including:
Raising awareness among farmers about the benefits and availability of Striga bioherbicide.
Providing access to seed treatment for community-based and commercial seed multipliers, and by agro-dealers.
Linking producers to financial support and markets.
Estimate the quantity of bioherbicide needed for your project, knowing that they are three package sizes: 15.50 USD to treat 10kg of maize seed, 7.25 USD to treat 5kg of maize seed, and 3.10 USD to treat 2kg of maize seed.

As the technology is available in several countries, including Kenya, include the delivery cost to the project site and account for import clearance and duties if relevant.

Training is important because treating seeds requires knowledge and skills to be performed properly and safely. A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.

Communication support for the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.).

For better optimization of this technology, it is recommended to associate it with complementary technologies such as improved seed varieties, integrated pest management strategies, and sustainable farming practices.

3.1 USD

Retail prices to treat 2kg of maize seed

ROI: $$$ 42—56 %

Yield increased

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 9 out of 9

Uncontrolled environment: validated

Level of use 8 out of 9

Used by some intended users, in the real world

Maturity of the idea										Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Ethiopia	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Ghana	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Uganda	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–
Semiarid	–	–
Subhumid	–	–	–	–
Humid	–	–	–	–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 5: gender equality

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure

Goal 15: life on land

Goal 17: partnerships for the goals

Kichawi Kill is administered by:

Mix the product packet with a small quantity of water, add the farmers' seeds and mix for a couple of minutes until thoroughly coated.
The coating is allowed to dry in the shade for 15 minutes and then is ready to be planted.
The seed should be treated within 24 hours of use if possible.
Kichawi Kill is administered at planting.
The shelf life of an unopened packet is 3 months at room temperature, 6 months in a refrigerator, and a year in a freezer.
Kichawi Kill is compatible with most but not all fungicide seed treatments on certified seeds. Prior to use, check the maize or sorghum seed treatment with the Toothpick Company to confirm compatibility.

Downloads

Baseline report.pdf (PDF, 1.86 MB)
Certificate registration_Kenya.pdf (PDF, 1.17 MB)
Registration authority PCPB.pdf (PDF, 457.5 KB)
Report.pdf (PDF, 1.35 MB)
Toothpick Competitor Matrix.pdf (PDF, 210.62 KB)
Toothpick manuel.pdf (PDF, 679.29 KB)
Toxycology report.pdf (PDF, 448.61 KB)
Sorghum and S. asiatica.pptx (PPTX, 854.78 KB)

Last updated on 7 April 2025

Toothpick Project, Toothpick Company Ltd.
Claire Baker

Commodities

Maize Sorghum/Millet Rice

Sustainable Development Goals Details ›

+ 4 more

Subcategory

Herbicide

Value chain step

Production

Solution

Weed control

Tested/adopted in Details ›

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Where it can be used Details ›

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.

Target groups

Farmers Seed companies

Kichawi Kill: Striga Bioherbicide

Problem

Solution

Key points to design your project

3.1 USD

ROI: $$$ 42—56 %